New Democrat Coalition Statement on Senate Permitting Reform Deal
Today, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50), NDC Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10), and NDC Vice Chair of Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) issued the following statement on the Senate’s released energy permitting reform legislation:
“At a time when hardworking Americans are experiencing higher energy bills, permitting reform has the potential to unleash American energy that will lower costs across the country. Without permitting reform, our country risks higher prices, rolling blackouts, a stalled economy, and a dirtier future for our children and grandchildren. As we review the text released this afternoon, we are encouraged by the good-faith bipartisan negotiations that led to this deal.
“New Dems have long held that any permitting legislation that comes to the House must make it easier to build transmission lines needed to power our economy and address permit certainty and parity for all forms of energy — particularly clean energy. Our coalition will remain engaged in this conversation to ensure that we deliver a bill that can pass through both chambers and into law. The American people know all too well that they are paying higher prices because of a broken system — it is well past time that Congress does something about it.”
The Coalition has continuously engaged with our partners in the Senate and across the aisle to push for the priorities included in our framework to achieve energy independence, security, and affordability. These include:
- Reforming permitting rules to make it faster and cheaper to build energy transmission and generation infrastructure.
- Ensuring energy is available and abundant by establishing a level playing field for all forms of energy.
- Reallocating electric grid costs to protect consumers from price hikes due to manufacturing and data center development.
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